Gamma Phi Beta
Gamma Phi Beta was founded on November 11, 1874 at Syracuse University by Helen M. Dodge, Frances E. Haven, Eunice Adeline Curtis, and Mary A. Bingham. The young women enlisted the help of Dr. E.O. Haven, Francis' father, and Syracuse University's chancellor as they fought to establish what would be only the second women's organization on Syracuse's campus. After its installment, Dr. Frank Smalley, a professor at the university, coined the word "sorority" especially for Gamma Phi Beta. Thanks to the efforts of Helen M. Dodge, Francis E. Haven, E. Adeline Curtis, and Mary A. Bingham, Gamma Phi Beta now has an international membership of over 130,000 members, with 114 collegiate chapters and 156 alumnae groups, with chapters in both the United States and Canada.
The Lambda chapter was founded in May 1903. Not only was it the first sorority at the University of Washington but it was also the first recognized sorority in the Northwest. Since then, the women of the Lambda chapter have become influential leaders not only in the Greek community but in the University community as well.
Founders of Gamma Phi Beta